Products and processes for targeting offers to players in a video game

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment, a video game is capable of providing offer to player of the video game. For example, the video game can provide to the player an offer to receive a particular virtual item (a virtual object or a virtual service delivered in the video game) in exchange for a particular price. The time at which the offer is provided to the player can be governed by the status in the game of the player character of the player.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/796,289, filed Jun. 8, 2010, entitled “VIDEO GAME CAPABLE OFPROVIDING OFFERS TO PLAYERS”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a network according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts another network according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a system used in providing offers according to anembodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a process according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a process according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following sections I-X provide a guide to interpreting the presentapplication.

I. Terms

The term “product” means a machine, manufacture and/or composition ofmatter, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “process” means a process, algorithm, method or the like,unless expressly specified otherwise.

Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise)inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a“step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in themere description of a process, or in the mere recitation of the term‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficient antecedent basis.

The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventionsdisclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “anotherembodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments ofthe invention”, unless expressly specified otherwise. Two or moredescribed embodiments may or may not be mutually exclusive. The merefact that two embodiments are described, or that two embodiments aredescribed in proximity to each other or in conjunction with each other,does not imply that the two embodiments are mutually exclusive. Adescribed embodiment may or may not be strictly narrower than andencompassed by another described embodiment. The mere fact that twoembodiments are described, or that two embodiments are described inproximity to each other or in conjunction with each other, does notimply that one of the embodiments is strictly narrower than andencompassed by the other embodiment.

The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of theinvention, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise. Similarly, the merefact that two (or more) embodiments are referenced does not imply thatthose embodiments are mutually exclusive.

One embodiment of the invention may cover or embrace more than one otherembodiment of the invention. For example, a first embodiment comprisingelements a, b, and c may cover a second embodiment that compriseselements a, b, c, and d as well as a third embodiment covering elementsa, b, c, and e. Similarly, each of the first, second, and thirdembodiments would cover a fourth embodiment comprising elements a, b, c,d, and e.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not necessarily limited to”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. Thus, for example, the sentence “the machine includes a redwidget and a blue widget” means the machine includes the red widget andthe blue widget, but may possibly include one or more other items aswell as another example, the sentence “Examples of machines include acomputer and a motor” means that one example of a machine is a computer,another example of a machine is a motor, and there may be other examples(e.g., things that are neither computers nor motors may nevertheless bea machine)

The term “consisting of” and variations thereof mean “including and alsolimited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. Thus, for example,the sentence “the machine consists of a red widget and a blue widget”means the machine includes the red widget and the blue widget, but doesnot include anything else.

The term “compose” and variations thereof mean “to make up theconstituent parts of, component of or member of” unless expresslyspecified otherwise. Thus, for example, the sentence “the red widget andthe blue widget compose a machine” means the machine includes the redwidget and the blue widget.

The term “exclusively compose” and variations thereof mean “to make upexclusively the constituent parts of, to be the only components of, orto be the only members of”, unless expressly specified otherwise. Thus,for example, the sentence “the red widget and the blue widgetexclusively compose a machine” means the machine consists of the redwidget and the blue widget (i.e. and nothing else).

The indefinite articles “a” and “an” and the definite article “the”refer to “one or more” of the noun modified by that article, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Thus, for example, the phrase “a widget”means one or more widgets, unless expressly specified otherwise.Similarly, after reciting the phrase “a widget”, a subsequent recitationof the phrase “the widget” means “the one or more widgets”. Accordingly,it should be understood that the word “the” may also refer to a specificterm having antecedent basis. For example, if a paragraph mentions “aspecific single feature” and then refers to “the specific singlefeature,” then the word “the” should be understood to refer to thepreviously mentioned “a specific single feature.”

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

A “set” of things (e.g., a set of widgets) may include one or more ofthose things (e.g., one or more widgets), which are members of the set.Whether the set includes a particular item as a member is synonymouswith whether a set includes the particular item.

A “subset” of things (e.g., a subset of widgets) may include one or moreof those things. A subset does not imply that there must be in thesubset fewer things than in some other set of things. A subset of aparticular set may include some or all of the members of the set.

A reference to a “plurality” (and like terms such as “at least one”,“one or more”, “set” and the like) has inherent antecedent basis for the“number” of things included in the plurality (or in the set, etc.). Forexample, in the phrase “receiving a plurality of commands”, there isinherent antecedent basis for “the number of commands”. For example, inthe phrase “receiving a set of commands”, there is inherent antecedentbasis for “the number of commands”.

The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anythingwhich may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The phrase “at least one of” is equivalent to “one or more of”, and wheneither such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumeratedlist of things), such phrase means any combination of one or more ofthose things, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, thephrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” means either (i) awidget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widgetand a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and awheel. The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies aplurality of things does not mean “one of each of” the plurality ofthings. For example, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and awheel” does not mean “one widget, one car and one wheel”.

Numerical terms such as “one”, “two”, etc. when used as cardinal numbersto indicate quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), meanthe quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at leastthe quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase“one widget” does not mean “at least one widget”, and therefore thephrase “one widget” does not cover, e.g., two widgets.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” covers both“based only on” and “based at least on”. Therefore, the phrase “basedon” is equivalent to the phrase “based at least on” and is alsoequivalent to the phrase “based at least in part on”. For example, thephrase “element A is based on element B and element C” coversembodiments where element A is calculated as the product of B times C(in other words, A=B×C) and where A is calculated as the sum of B plus C(in other words, A=B+C).

The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” does not mean“represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example,the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” covers both “thedata represents only a credit card number” and “the data represents acredit card number and the data also represents something else”.

The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other setof words that express only the intended result, objective or consequenceof something that is explicitly recited before the term “whereby”. Thus,when the term “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other wordsthat the term “whereby” precedes do not establish specific furtherlimitations of the claim or otherwise restrict the meaning or scope ofthe claim.

The terms “e.g.”, “such as” and like terms mean “for example”, and thusdo not limit the term or phrase they explain. For example, in thesentence “the computer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure)over the Internet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are anexample of “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and alsoexplains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that thecomputer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “adata structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides“instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”.

The term “time”, when used as a determined quantity, means any sort oftime (e.g., time of day, day of week, date, year) on which one or morethings are determined to occur.

The term “period of time” means any sort of duration (e.g., number ofseconds, number of minutes, other durations) of one or more things.

The term “good” generally refers to anything which may be provided inexchange for money or other value, and thus “good” includes services,rights and items, whether tangible or intangible.

The term “respective” and like terms mean “taken individually”. Thus iftwo or more things have “respective” characteristics, then each suchthing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can bedifferent from each other but need not be. For example, the phrase “eachof two machines has a respective function” means that the first of thetwo machines has a function and the second of the two machines has afunction as well. The function of the first machine may or may not bethe same as the function of the second machine.

Similarly, in the phrase “for each of the plurality of widgets,determining a respective price of the widget, a reference to “thewidget” in that phrase means the “determining” step is applied to(performed for) each widget of the plurality of widgets. The phrase “therespective prices of the plurality of widgets” thus means the set whichincludes as members each respective price of the plurality of widgets.

The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the termor phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sendsdata (i.e., instructions) over the Internet”, the term “i.e.” explainsthat “instructions” are the “data” that the computer sends over theInternet.

A numerical range includes integers and non-integers within the range,unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the range “1 to 10”includes the integers from 1 to 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . 9, 10) andnon-integers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9). A range may be denoted asnon-inclusive explicitly, such as “the range of voltages from 2.5 voltsto 10.3 volts exclusive”, and such a range excludes 2.5 volts andexcludes 10.3 volts.

A range can be continuous or discrete. For example, the range “fromthree meters to five meters” is a continuous range. The range “integerranges from three meters to five meters” is a discrete range.

A range includes two ends, and each such end is, where the range isinclusive, a thing that is included in the range. Thus a rangeinherently has antecedent basis for the term “the ends”, and hasantecedent basis for the term “an end” and has antecedent basis for theterms “the first end” and “the second end”. Where the range is orderedor may be ordered (e.g., a range of integers that may be orderednumerically, a range of text that may be ordered alphabetically) therange includes ends that are distinguishable because of their respectiveordering. Thus a range that may be ordered has antecedent basis forterms that denote the place of the end in the ordering scheme (e.g., arange that can be numerically ordered has a “low end” and a “high end”).

When used to compare values (e.g., integers, fractions) which arecapable of being ordered with respect to each other, the phrase “notgreater than” is equivalent to “less than or equal to”. Similarly, thephrase “not less than” is equivalent to “greater than or equal to”.

In reference to a plurality of things (e.g., a plurality of widgets)superlatives, where a superlative may be applied to the plurality (e.g.,the largest widget of the plurality of widgets, the lowest price of theset of prices) and there is inherently antecedent basis for suchsuperlative.

For example, for a plurality of numbers, there is inherent antecedentbasis for the phrase “the greatest number of the plurality of numbers”,e.g., since numbers can be ordered from least to greatest and thus thegreatest number is readily and unambiguously ascertainable—the greatestnumber is that number of the plurality of numbers which is greater thanall other numbers of the plurality of numbers. Similarly, in anembodiment where there are two equal numbers, and both numbers aregreater than all other numbers in the plurality, then there are twogreatest numbers.

Where two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (e.g., because of anexplicit statement that the terms or phrases are synonymous), instancesof one such term or phrase does not mean instances of another such termor phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where a statementrenders the meaning of “including” to be synonymous with “including butnot limited to”, the mere usage of the phrase “including but not limitedto” does not mean that the term “including” means something other than“including but not limited to”.

II. Determining

The term “determining” and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., todetermine a price, determining a value, the determination of an objectwhich meets a certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense.The term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions andtherefore “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing,deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, adatabase or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also,“determining” can include receiving (e.g., receiving information),accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also,“determining” can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing,and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply certainty or absolute precision,and therefore “determining” can include estimating, extrapolating,predicting, heuristically “best guessing”, averaging and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply that mathematical processing mustbe performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be used,and does not imply that an algorithm is used.

The term “determining” does not imply that any particular device must beused. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform thedetermining.

III. Forms of Sentences

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to that limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this mere usage does not imply that the first claim covers only one ofthe feature, and this does not imply that the second claim covers onlyone of the feature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget andmore than one widget).

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature thatis described by the same term or by a similar term, but that ordinalnumber does not have any other meaning or limiting effect—it is merely aconvenient name. For example, a “first widget” may be so named merely todistinguish it from, e.g., a “second widget”. Thus, the mere usage ofthe ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” doesnot indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, andlikewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or bothwidgets. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and“second” before the term “widget” (1) does not indicate that eitherwidget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) doesnot indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any otherin time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above orbelow any other, as in importance or quality. Thus, the mere usage ofthe ordinal number “first” does not indicate that there must be a“second”. For example, the use of the phrase “a first widget” does notimply that there be a second widget. Accordingly, it would not beambiguous or indefinite to use in a claim the term “a first widget”where no “second widget” is recited in that claim (or in any other claimit depends on). The mere usage of the ordinal number “second” or greaterordinal numbers does not indicate that there must be a “first” or anylesser ordinal number. For example, the use of the phrase “a secondplurality of widgets” does not imply that there be a first plurality ofwidgets. Accordingly, it would not be ambiguous or indefinite to use ina claim the term “a second plurality of widgets” where no “firstplurality of widgets” is recited in that claim (or in any other claim itdepends on). A term which is labeled by an ordinal number is differentthan a term that is not modified by any ordinal number. For example, ina claim a reference to “a green widget” and a reference to “a secondgreen widget” means that there are references to different widgets andthus there is no ambiguity as to whether the second green widget is oris not a reference to the green widget. The mere usage of ordinalnumbers does not define a numerical limit to the features identifiedwith the ordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinalnumbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicatethat there are exactly two widgets.

When a single device, article or other product is described herein, inanother embodiment more than one device or article (whether or not theycooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device orarticle that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that isdescribed as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessedby more than one device or article (whether or not they cooperate) inanother embodiment.

Similarly, where more than one device, article or other product isdescribed herein (whether or not they cooperate), in another embodimenta single device or article may alternatively be used in place of themore than one device or article that is described. For example, aplurality of computer-based devices may be substituted with a singlecomputer-based device. (Conversely, a single computer-based device maybe substituted with multiple computer-based devices operating incooperation with one another.) Accordingly, the various functionalitythat is described as being possessed by more than one device or articlemay alternatively be possessed by a single device or article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may, in another embodiment, be alternatively embodied by oneor more other devices which are described but are not explicitlydescribed as having such functionality or features. Thus, otherembodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather caninclude the one or more other devices which would, in those otherembodiments, have such functionality or features.

IV. Disclosed Examples and Terminology are not Limiting

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thepresent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of thepresent application) is to be taken as limiting in any way the scope ofthe disclosed invention, is to be used in interpreting the meaning ofany claim or is to be used in limiting the scope of any claim. AnAbstract has been included in this application merely because anAbstract is required under 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b).

The headings of sections provided in the present application are forconvenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure inany way.

Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and arepresented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments arenot, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The disclosedinventions are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readilyapparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the disclosed invention may be practiced with variousmodifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software,and electrical modifications. Although particular features of thedisclosed invention may be described with reference to one or moreparticular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood thatsuch features are not limited to usage in the one or more particularembodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described,unless expressly specified otherwise.

Though an embodiment may be disclosed as including several features,other embodiments of the invention may include fewer than all suchfeatures. Thus, for example, a claim may be directed to less than theentire set of features in a disclosed embodiment, and such claim wouldnot be interpreted as requiring features beyond those features that theclaim expressly recites.

No embodiment of method steps or product elements described in thepresent application constitutes the invention claimed herein, or isessential to the invention claimed herein, or is coextensive with theinvention claimed herein, except where it is either expressly stated tobe so in this specification or (with respect to a claim and theinvention defined by that claim) expressly recited in that claim.

Any preambles of the claims recite purposes, benefits and possible usesof the claimed invention only and do not limit the claimed invention.

The present disclosure is not a literal description of all embodimentsof the invention. Also, the present disclosure is not a listing offeatures of the invention which must be present in all embodiments.

All disclosed embodiments are not necessarily covered by the claims(even including all pending, amended, issued and canceled claims). Inaddition, a disclosed embodiment may be (but need not necessarily be)covered by several claims. Accordingly, where a claim (regardless ofwhether pending, amended, issued or canceled) is directed to aparticular embodiment, such is not evidence that the scope of otherclaims do not also cover that embodiment.

Devices that are described as in communication with each other need notbe in continuous communication with each other, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit toeach other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for long periods of time (e.g. weeks at atime). In addition, devices that are in communication with each othermay communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries. Devices are in communication with one another if theyare capable of one-way communication with one another. For example, afirst device and a second device may be in communication with oneanother if the first device is capable of transmitting information tothe second device, and the second device is capable of receivinginformation from the first device.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components or features arerequired. On the contrary, a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent invention. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no componentor feature is essential or required.

Although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described orclaimed in a particular sequential order, such processes may beconfigured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence ororder of steps that may be explicitly described or claimed does notnecessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in thatorder. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in anyorder possible. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneouslydespite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously(e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover,the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does notimply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations andmodifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process orany of its steps are necessary to the invention, and does not imply thatthe illustrated process is preferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention include other processes that omit some or all of thedescribed steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a process may be described singly or without reference to otherproducts or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact withother products or methods. For example, such interaction may includelinking one business model to another business model. Such interactionmay be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of theprocess.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention include other products that omit some or all of thedescribed plurality.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items(which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of theitems are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, and aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list aremutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three itemsof that list are comprehensive of any category.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are equivalent to each other orreadily substituted for each other.

All embodiments are illustrative, and do not imply that the invention orany embodiments were made or performed, as the case may be.

V. Computing

It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that thevarious processes described herein may be implemented by, e.g.,appropriately programmed general purpose computers, special purposecomputers and computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., one ormore microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digitalsignal processors) will receive instructions (e.g., from a memory orlike device), and execute those instructions, thereby performing one ormore processes defined by those instructions. Instructions may beembodied in, e.g., one or more computer programs, one or more scripts.

A “processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processingunits (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors, or like devices or any combination thereof, regardless ofthe architecture (e.g., chip-level multiprocessing or multi-core, RISC,CISC, Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages, pipeliningconfiguration, simultaneous multithreading).

A “computing device” means one or more microprocessors, centralprocessing units (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digitalsignal processors, graphics card, mobile gaming device, or like devicesor any combination thereof, regardless of the architecture (e.g.,chip-level multiprocessing or multi-core, RISC, CISC, Microprocessorwithout Interlocked Pipeline Stages, pipelining configuration,simultaneous multithreading).

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of anapparatus for performing the process. The apparatus that performs theprocess can include, e.g., a processor and those input devices andoutput devices that are appropriate to perform the process. For example,a description of a process is a description of an apparatus comprising aprocessor and memory (or other computer readable medium) that stores aprogram comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor,direct the processor to perform the process. The memory can be incommunication with the processor, e.g., via a bus or network.

A computer readable medium can be in communication with a processor suchthat the processor can receive some or all of the instructions stored onthe computer readable medium. Likewise the processor can execute some orall of the instructions stored on the computer readable medium, and canexecute different instructions at different times.

Further, programs that implement such methods (as well as other types ofdata) may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g.,computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments,hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or incombination with, some or all of the software instructions that canimplement the processes of various embodiments. Thus, variouscombinations of hardware and software may be used instead of softwareonly.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium, a plurality ofthe same, or a combination of different media, that participate inproviding data (e.g., instructions, data structures) which may be readby a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take manyforms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media,and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, opticalor magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media includedynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes themain memory of a computer or computing system. Transmission mediainclude coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including thewires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmissionmedia may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves andelectromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radiofrequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms ofcomputer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM,DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any otherphysical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, aFLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave asdescribed hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

The term “tangible computer-readable medium” refers to a“computer-readable medium” that comprises a hardware component, such asoptical or magnetic disks, semiconductor memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, flashdrives, semiconductor hard drives). Therefore, for example, a tangiblecomputer-readable medium is not a carrier wave or an RF transmission.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingdata (e.g. sequences of instructions) to a processor. For example, datamay be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over awireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmittedaccording to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Ethernet(or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth, and TCPorIP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G;and/or (iv) encrypted to ensure privacy or prevent fraud in any of avariety of ways well known in the art.

A “user interface” is ‘used by’ a device, such as a computing device, toprovide outputs to a user and to receive inputs from a user. Forexample, the user interface may direct the device to display (orotherwise provide) certain outputs (as defined by the user interface),and allow inputs to be received from the user via the device. In anembodiment, in order for the device to generate the user interface, thedevice executes certain instructions, e.g., instructions to output dataand receive data as inputs. A user interface can include one or moreoutput controls which output data and/or one or more input controlswhich allow data to be received. A type of input control allows aselection of an option from among a plurality of options, and may allowonly one option to be selected, may allow one or more options to beselected, may allow that a predetermined number of options are selected,may allow that no options are selected. An input control may define theformat of type of input that may be entered. A control may function asboth an input control and as an output control.

A description of different capabilities of a user interface (e.g., bydescribing different embodiments of a user interface, by describingdifferent things that a user interface can do) does not mean that in allembodiments the user interface must include all such describedcapabilities. On the contrary, such description also supports anembodiment in which, e.g., a user interface has only one of thedescribed capabilities, and supports an embodiment in which a userinterface has a particular combination of less than all of the describedcapabilities.

A description of a process is likewise a description of acomputer-readable medium storing a program for performing the process.The computer-readable medium can store (in any appropriate format) thoseprogram elements which are appropriate to perform the method. Forexample, a description of a process is a description of acomputer-readable storage medium that stores a program comprisinginstructions that, when executed by a processor, direct the processor toperform the method.

Just as the description of various steps in a process does not indicatethat all the described steps are required, embodiments of an apparatusinclude a computer or computing device operable to perform some (but notnecessarily all) of the described process.

Likewise, just as the description of various steps in a process does notindicate that all the described steps are required, embodiments of acomputer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include acomputer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, cancause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of thedescribed process.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrativearrangements for stored representations of information. Any number ofother arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g.,tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustratedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content ofthe entries can be different from those described herein. Further,despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats(including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributeddatabases) could be used to store and manipulate the data typesdescribed herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a databasecan be used to implement various processes, such as those describedherein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be storedlocally or remotely from a device which accesses data in such adatabase.

Various embodiments can be configured to work in a network environmentincluding a computer that is in communication (e.g., via acommunications network) with one or more devices. The computer maycommunicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via any wired orwireless medium (e.g. the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, atelephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communicationsline, commercial on-line service providers, bulletin board systems, asatellite communications link, a combination of any of the above). Eachof the devices may themselves comprise computers or other computingdevices, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or Centrino™processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any numberand type of devices may be in communication with the computer.

In an embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may not benecessary or desirable. For example, the present invention may, in anembodiment, be practiced on one or more devices without a centralauthority. In such an embodiment, any functions described herein asperformed by the server computer or data described as stored on theserver computer may instead be performed by or stored on one or moresuch devices.

Where a process is described, in an embodiment the process may operatewithout any user intervention. In another embodiment, the processincludes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or withthe assistance of a human).

VI. Continuing Applications

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the presentapplication, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of the presentapplication.

Applicants intend to file additional applications to pursue patents forsubject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but not claimed inthe present application.

VII. 35 U.S.C. §112, Paragraph 6

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “meansfor” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6,applies to that limitation.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase“means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whetherthat limitation recites a function without recitation of structure,material or acts for performing that function. For example, in a claim,the mere use of the phrase “step of” or the phrase “steps of” inreferring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does notmean that 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s).

With respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, the correspondingstructure, material or acts described in the specification, andequivalents thereof, may perform additional functions as well as thespecified function.

Computers, processors, computing devices and like products arestructures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such productscan be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or moreprograms, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product orin a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expresslyspecified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particularalgorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed inthe present application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill inthe art that a specified function may be implemented via differentalgorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a meredesign choice for carrying out the specified function.

Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specifiedfunction in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, structurecorresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed toperform the specified function. Such structure includes programmedproducts which perform the function, regardless of whether such productis programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing thefunction, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or(iii) a different algorithm for performing the function.

Where there is recited a means for performing a function that is amethod, one structure for performing this method includes a computingdevice (e.g., a general purpose computer) that is programmed and/orconfigured with appropriate hardware to perform that function.

Also included is a computing device (e.g., a general purpose computer)that is programmed and/or configured with appropriate hardware toperform that function via other algorithms as would be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art.

VIII. Disclaimer

Numerous references to a particular embodiment do not indicate adisclaimer or disavowal, from the scope of the invention, of additional,different embodiments, and similarly references to the description ofembodiments which all include a particular feature do not indicate adisclaimer or disavowal of embodiments which do not include thatparticular feature. A clear disclaimer or disavowal in the presentapplication will explicitly refer to the scope of the invention asdisclaiming or disavowing certain subject matter and will also beprefaced by a phrase such as “does not include” or “cannot perform”.

IX. Incorporation By Reference

Any patent, patent application or other document referred to herein isincorporated by reference into this patent application as part of thepresent disclosure, but only for purposes of written description andenablement in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 1, and should inno way be used to limit, define, or otherwise construe any term of thepresent application, unless without such incorporation by reference, noordinary meaning would have been ascertainable by a person of ordinaryskill in the art. Conversely, the definitions and other subject matterexplicitly set forth in this application should not be used to limit,define, or otherwise construe any term of any document incorporatedherein by reference. Nothing explicitly set forth in this applicationshould be interpreted as an admission or characterization of any priorart to this application.

Any incorporation by reference does not, in and of itself, imply anyendorsement of, ratification of or acquiescence in any statements,opinions, arguments or characterizations contained in any incorporatedpatent, patent application or other document, unless explicitlyspecified otherwise in this patent application.

X. Prosecution History

In interpreting the present application (which includes the claims), oneof ordinary skill in the art refers to the prosecution history of thepresent application, but not to the prosecution history of any otherpatent or patent application, regardless of whether there are otherpatent applications that are considered related to the presentapplication, and regardless of whether there are other patentapplications that share a claim of priority with the presentapplication.

XI. Additional Embodiments

Some types of video games are accessible to multiple players via aserver or other coordinating device. For example, hundreds of thousandsof players access games known as massive multi player online games(MMOGs). Players of such games typically access the game repeatedly(e.g., for durations ranging from a few minutes to several days) overgiven period of time (e.g., days, weeks, months or even years). Thesegames are often constructed such that players pay a periodicsubscription price (e.g., $15 per month) rather than, or in addition to,paying an upfront purchase price for the game. Often, though notnecessarily, these games have no ultimate “winner” or “winning goal,”but instead attempt to create an enjoyable playing environment and astrong player community.

Unless stated to the contrary, for the purposes of the presentdisclosure, the following terms shall have the following definitions:

Credit Card—means a credit instrument issued (e.g., by a real-worldinstitution) to a player, in which the credit instrument allows theplayer to make purchases. Typically purchases are made by providing anaccount identifier (e.g. a credit card number) rather than by tenderingcash or other currency. An example is a credit card like those issued byVisa, Mastercard, or American Express. For the purposes of the presentdisclosure, the term “credit card” is used in a very broad sense and isnot limited to those situations in which a player's purchases are madeon credit (i.e. is not limited to where payments for purchases are duemonthly or another time well after the purchase). The term “credit card”also includes payment instruments such as debit cards, check cards, andthe like.

Billing Information—means any information used in or otherwisepertaining to billing a player. Billing information may include, e.g., abilling address, a credit card account, a bank account, a pay palaccount or other payment information.

Player—means a person that plays a video game. In an embodiment, thevideo game may permit players to register an account with a Video GameCentral Server or within a peer-to-peer network, and/or create oroperate player characters that can interact with other player charactersin a video game environment.

Player Character—means a persona in a video game that is created and/oroperated by a player of the video game. Such a player may be referred toas the player corresponding to the character.

Character Account—means an account that records, maintains and/orprovides access to character attributes.

Character Attribute—means any quality, trait, feature or characteristica particular character can have. Examples of character attributesinclude:

A character score

A virtual object

The physical appearance of a character

An emblem or mark

A synthetic voice

Virtual money

Virtual help points or credits

The ability to join groups of other players at a later time

A score for subsequent matching of later game parameters

A relationship with another character

A genetic profile or makeup

Character Life—means a period of virtual or real world time during whicha player character can exist in a game environment.

Character Skills—means game attributes, whether inherent or acquired bya player character during game play, such as: the ability to castcertain spells, foretell the future, read minds, use certain weapons,cook, hunt, find herbs, assemble herbs into potions, mine, assembleobjects into other objects, fly, and/or enchant other player characters.

NPC (“Non Player Character”)—means a character that is operated by thevideo game or by other software control or that is otherwise operatedwithout direct control by a player.

Game Parameter—means any part of a Video Game by which characters can bemeasured. Examples of game parameters include:

Completing all or part of a mission

Playing for a particular period of time

Winning a match, e.g., against another player character orcomputer-generated character

Reaching a certain level or score

Using or obtaining an ability, object or technology

kill/death ratios

solving a puzzle

accuracy with weapons

effective use of a proper weapon

killing a certain creature/character

getting through or to a certain geographic area in the virtual world

decreasing or increasing Karma Points

getting, buying, exchanging or learning a new skill or player attribute

having a child

getting married

obtaining, buying, trading, producing or developing raw materials

producing goods or services

earning income

earning a higher rank in a group (e.g., in an army, clan or guild)

winning an election among two or more player characters

achieving deity status

improving player character status or caste

assisting other player characters with any of the above

speed of accomplishing any of the above or other game parameters

In-game Marketplace—means a virtual environment where characters canbuy, sell, exchange or otherwise transact in attributes.

Real Cash Value—means the value in real world currency (e.g., U.S.dollars) of something, such as an obligation. This value can bedetermined, e.g., by multiplying the financial obligation value by thethen-published exchange rate to real dollars.

Game Environment—means the world accessible via an online game such asWorld of Warcraft or a virtual community such as Second Life. In somegames, data representing the game environment is stored on the videogame central server and/or video game consoles.

Total virtual obligation amount—means the total amount of virtualfinancial obligations associated with a player character.

Virtual Contract—means an enforceable agreement with a player (or playercharacter), such as between players or between a player and a gameserver operator. Some examples of virtual contracts are provided in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/652,036, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety as part of the presentdescription.

Player to Player Contract—means a virtual contract between players thatallows players to provide or exchange game attributes to one another. Inan embodiment, once a player-to-player contract is established, the gameserver or peer-to-peer network can automatically distributes acquiredgame attributes between the player characters based on the contractconditions.

Virtual—means in or pertaining to a game environment or other intangiblerealm.

Virtual Environment—means an online game such as World of Warcraft or avirtual community such as Second Life.

Virtual Creditor—means an entity, such as a player, owed a virtualobligation by a player or player character.

Virtual Financial Obligation—means an agreement by a player character orentity to pay one or more game attributes to another, such as to anotherplayer character or the game server operator. This obligation can be,e.g., a one time payment, or multiple payments over time. The obligationmight specify, e.g., that payments are due on virtual or real dates.

Virtual Financial Obligation Value—means the in-game value of theobligation. For virtual cash the value is typically expressed as avirtual cash amount. For other game attributes, the value might bedetermined, e.g., by generating a virtual cash market value for the itembased on the current value in an online marketplace or exchange. Thevalue of the obligation might also be set as a condition of the playercontract.

Massive Multi Player Online Video Game—means a video game that is playedusing either (a) a network of a video game central server and at leasttwo video game consoles or (b) a peer-to-peer network of at least twovideo game consoles.

Novice Player—means a player that is identified as requiring the help ofan expert to complete a game parameter.

Player Account—means an account (e.g., stored on the video console, thevideo game central server or across a peer-to-peer network) thatdescribes a player profile, such as personal information, billinginformation, and character account information.

Player Attribute—means any attribute that can be applied to a playeraccount. Examples of player attributes include: real money discount ofmonthly fees for playing the game, monthly fee for playing the game,global character attribute settings for all characters created by playeracross multiple games, and rewards for encouraging another player toregister to play the game.

Video Game—means a game played on a video game console. One type ofvideo game is networked to a Video Game Central Server. Another type ofvideo game is networked within a peer-to-peer network. A video game mayinclude many games and may include other features separate from gameplaying. In some video games, characters can interact with each other ina video game environment that is stored on the video game central serverand the video game consoles.

Video Game Console—means a device comprising a CPU, memory and optionalpermanent storage, where the device resides at a player location (e.g.,home, office, game playing business), and where the device allows forthe playing of video games (e.g., by executing software). Examples ofvideo game consoles include home computers, cell phones, smart phones,PDAs, Microsoft Xbox, and Sony Playstation. A video game console may ormay not be networked. A video game console may be capable of performingadditional functions besides allowing for the play of video games.

Video Game Central Server—means a device comprising a CPU, memory andpermanent or temporary storage, where the device is connected tomultiple video game consoles and where the device allows for MassiveMulti Player Online Video Games to be played.

In an embodiment, a video game can provide an offer to a player of thevideo game. For example, the video game can provide to the player anoffer to receive a particular virtual item (a virtual object or avirtual service delivered in the video game) in exchange for aparticular price.

In an embodiment, the time at which the offer is provided to the playercan be governed by the status in the game of the player character of theplayer. The status of the player character includes things such as thelocation of the player character in the virtual world, what has occurredin the video game around the player character or involving the playercharacter, what is about to occur in the video game around the playercharacter or involving the player character, what actions the playercharacter has taken and the condition of certain NPCs that the playercharacter has fought.

In an embodiment, it can be useful to offer to a player an opportunityto overcome an obstacle or achieve a goal, especially one that has beendifficult for the player. For example, it can be useful to offer to aplayer an opportunity to defeat an opponent the player has been unableto defeat, or an opportunity to complete a mission which requiressolving a difficult puzzle the player has been unable to solve.

According to an embodiment, the video game can provide an offer to aplayer of the video game at a time when the player has, for example,encountered a difficulty, perhaps repeatedly encountered a difficulty.The offer can be, for example, for an item that is useful in overcomingthe difficulty the player has encountered.

For example, in an embodiment when the player has failed to kill aparticular monster after three attempts, the video game can provide anoffer to the player. The offer can be, for example, for a powerfulweapon that would be useful in killing the monster.

The status in the game of the player character can govern (a) the timeat which the offer is provided to the player corresponding to the playercharacter, and/or (b) the virtual item that is offered to the playercorresponding to the player character. In an embodiment, players orother entities can select or otherwise establish particular virtualitems to be offered and what kinds of status of players trigger theproviding of offers to players. In this manner, an entity (e.g., aplayer) can determine what is offered to one or more players and underwhat circumstances such an offer is made to one or more players, and theentity may also determine, e.g., a price the player must pay for theitem. In an embodiment, the designer of the video game or another entitythat is affiliated with the commercialization or management of the gamecan establish particular virtual items to be offered and what kinds ofstatus of players trigger the providing of offers to players. Forexample, the video game may be built with a set of predetermined itemsto offer to one or more players under predetermined circumstances. Asanother example, the operator of a server that runs the video game maydetermine what is offered to one or more players and under whatcircumstances such an offer is made to one or more players.

ONE EXAMPLE

A first player establishes a condition that is the failure to complete aparticular level in the game after three attempts and the player alsoestablishes an upsell message. A database entry stores this conditionand this upsell message. When a player character satisfies the conditionby failing to complete the particular level in the game after attemptingto do so three times, the server that manages the video game detectsthis fact (e.g., by comparing the status of the player character withentries including the entry storing the condition that is the failure tocomplete a particular level in the game after three attempts), andoutputs the upsell message to the player corresponding to the playercharacter. For example, the upsell message can be displayed in a windowin the game. The window can display the text such as “Would you like tocomplete this level?”, as well as a button or other control to permitthe player to indicate whether he accepts the upsell offer.

If the player corresponding to the player character clicks the button toindicate acceptance, a message is output (e.g., via the window)indicating the price he can pay to complete the level. For example, theprice can be, e.g., in game currency (e.g., pay 100 gold coins), virtualitems (e.g., forfeit a sword or health points, perform a service withthe player character), in real currency (e.g., pay $2). If the playercorresponding to the player character accepts, then payment is made fromhim to the first player, and the first player in exchange grants orlends the second player an item (e.g., a very powerful weapon) thatpermits the second player to complete the particular level.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE

The game designers or another entity that is affiliated with thecommercialization or management of the game can establish (a) acondition that comprises the failure to complete a particular level inthe game, and (b) an upsell message. For example, such a condition couldbe built into the video game software and available when the software isdeployed. When a player character satisfies the conditions by failing tocomplete the particular level in the game, the upsell message is outputto the player. For example, the upsell message can be displayed in awindow in the game. The window can display the text such as “would youlike to complete this level?”, as well as a button or other control topermit the player to indicate whether the upsell offer is accepted.

If the player clicks the button to indicate acceptance, a message isoutput to the player indicating the price he can pay to complete thelevel. For example, the price the second player can pay can be, e.g., ingame currency (e.g., 100 gold coins), virtual items (e.g., forfeit asword or health points), in real currency (e.g., $2). Payment is madefrom the player (e.g., to the game company or another entity affiliatedwith the commercialization of the game), and the game software moves theplayer to the next level or grants or lends the player an item thatpermits the player to complete the particular level.

In an embodiment, a video game system can include a module or devicethat provides offers to players. Such a module or device can be, forexample, a server (or a component thereof) that coordinates play of thevideo game by a set of distributed video game devices (e.g., personalcomputers of different players, cellular telephones of differentplayers). Such a device may be a separate device that communicates withsuch a server and/or with video game devices.

In an embodiment, a video game system can include a module or devicethat receives and records data defining such offers (as well as otherdata about the offer) from one or more sources of such data. As usedherein, data about an offer includes not only data defining some or allof the offer to provide (e.g., text such as “would you like somehelp?”), but also includes data that specifies, e.g., when to providethe offer.

For example, the video game system can include a module or device thatcommunicates with a plurality of players and permits each of thoseplayers to enter data about an offer. As another example, the video gamesystem can include a module or device that communicates with a pluralityof entities that are not necessarily players. For example, such data maybe entered via a user interface (e.g., an HTML form in a web browser, acustom application) and such data may specify, e.g., a respective upselloffer (e.g., a textual message such as “Would you like advice onfinishing this level?”, an image graphically conveying the offer, avideo or audio that conveys the offer), a respective status of a playercharacter in the video game (e.g., that the player has less than fivehealth points, that the player has tried and failed to complete levelfive more than three times), a respective in-game item (e.g., a weapon,advice, training, health points, money), a respective price to pay forthe item (e.g., twenty gold coins, one real-world dollar, perform aservice), for how long the offer may be accepted (e.g., indefinitely,within the next twenty seconds, until another player accepts the sameoffer or a similar offer, until the status of the player characterbecomes a specified status) and/or a respective second player to pay forthe item.

Such data may be created and/or managed by any of a number of differenttypes of entities. For example, one such entity can be a provider ofin-game services or an advertiser for a third party provider of in-gameservices. In an embodiment, a player or another entity may be a willingto provide training services, such as services generally related to howto play the video game or parts of the video game, or how to play thevideo game or parts of the video game better. In an embodiment, a playeror another entity may be a willing to transact in virtual objects. Suchan entity could sell, lease or lend virtual objects in the video game,and such an entity may be able to partially or completely consummatesuch transactions within the video game itself (e.g., by receivingpayment via the video game for a virtual object that is sold). In anembodiment, a player or another entity may be a willing to provide loansor other financial services to other players. For example, such anentity could lend virtual currency, receive repayments and interestpayments, repossess virtual objects, and assess the collateral or networth of a player character.

Another entity that can create and/or manage such data (e.g., data aboutoffers) includes a provider of real-world services or an advertiser fora third party provider of real-world services. In an embodiment, aplayer or another entity may acquire customers for real-world services(e.g., cellular telephone plans, DVD rental subscriptions) via the videogame.

Another entity that can create and/or manage such data (e.g., data aboutoffers) includes friends of certain players. For example, a first playercould specify offers that are to be provided only or primarily to‘friends’ of the first player. Such ‘friends’ might be an enumeratedlist specified by name or other designation, or could be all members ofa friends list in a social network.

In an embodiment, a central server or other device can be operable torun a video game. For example, the device may be operable to run a videogame because the device includes or receives software which, whenexecuted by the device, allows the device to run the video game. In anembodiment, a central server or other device is operable to run amassive multi player online game, and the game is operable tosimultaneously support a plurality of players via a plurality of videogame devices (e.g., video game consoles). In an embodiment, each of theplayers controls one or more player characters. In an embodiment, theplayers are able to interact with each other in the video game, e.g.,via avatars, via another representation of a player character.

FIG. 1 depicts a network according to an embodiment. In FIG. 1 awide-area network permits a server to communicate with a plurality ofvideo game consoles such as computers and a cell phone. In the depictedembodiment, the video game consoles store data representing one or moreplayer characters (e.g., all player characters of the respective playerthat operates the video game console). In the depicted embodiment, theserver and a video console each store data and/or software modules(“MBU”) for managing offers which can be provided to players. The serveralso has access to additional data, such as via connected or remotedatabases. Such data may include, e.g., data for use in generating orexecuting one or more video games.

FIG. 2 depicts another network according to an embodiment. In FIG. 2 atwo video game consoles are connected via a network (Cloud). In thedepicted embodiment, both video game consoles store data representingplayer characters (e.g., all player characters of the respective playerthat operates the video game console). In the depicted embodiment, bothvideo consoles store data and/or software modules (“MBU”) for managingoffers which can be provided to players. The video game consoles alsohave access to additional data, such as via connected or remotedatabases. Such data may include, e.g., data for use in generating orexecuting one or more video games.

FIG. 3 depicts a system used in providing offers according to anembodiment. A module (“MBU”) includes data and/or software modules formanaging offers which can be provided to players. An offer modulemanages the offers and providing of offers. An accounting module managespayments involved with offers. A contract module manages playercontracts and other obligations that are involved with offers. A missionmodule manages aspects of missions that involve offers (e.g., completionof missions). A player database includes, for each of a plurality ofplayers, data such as player account information, player billinginformation and data defining player characters controlled by theplayer. A character database includes, for each of a plurality of playercharacters, character attributes, character status and missionsattempted by the character. A game parameter database includes, for eachof a plurality of missions, a name, identifier, whether offers areavailable with respect to the mission, and conditions accompanying suchoffers. An available offer database includes, for each of a plurality ofoffers, a name and/.or identifier, terms, range of values, value typeand conditions. An accepted offer database includes, for each of aplurality of accepted offers, an identifier of the offer, a date andtime the offer was accepted, the character or entity providing theoffer, the character or player accepting the offer, and the status ofthe offer (e.g., whether all obligations of the parties have beensatisfied).

FIG. 4 depicts a process 400 according to an embodiment. The process 400may be used, e.g., in providing an offer to a player that attempted tocomplete a mission.

FIG. 5 depicts a process 500 according to an embodiment. The process 500may be used, e.g., in closing out a contract created by accepting anoffer.

The video game can provide an offer to a player at a time that isgoverned by the status in the game of the player character of theplayer.

According to an embodiment, the system that runs the video game, or acomponent of such a system, determines the status in the game of theplayer character. For example, in an embodiment where a server or otherdevice coordinates play of the video game by a set of distributed videogame devices, the server can determine the status of the playercharacter. As another example, a video game device executing softwarethat runs the video game, or that runs a portion of the video game, candetermine the status of the player character.

In an embodiment, a device that determines the status of the playercharacter can communicate some or all of that status to another device.For example, a video game device can determine some types of the statusof the player character and communicate that to a server thatcoordinates play of the video game. In an embodiment, the status in thegame of a player character may be determined by two or more cooperatingdevices.

Various types of status of a player character are commonly recordedand/or manipulated by the devices that run or manage the video game. Forexample, the location of the player character in a virtual world istypically managed by the system that runs the video game (e.g., by aserver that coordinates play of an online multi-player game).

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characteris at the start of a mission or is about to begin a performing a task orobjective.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas failed to complete a mission or task, or failed to achieve anobjective. One type of objective is to transition to a subsequent levelin the video game. The term level may refer to the ability or othercharacteristics of a player character. For example, in some video gamesa player character has a level which generally corresponds to theexperience or power of the player character. The term level can alsorefer to a location in the virtual world. A level may have a differentappearance than other levels in the video game. For example, many videogames have levels which the player character must complete, andimmediately after completing a level (e.g., level four) the playerbegins at the next level (e.g., level five). In some video games, aplayer may only go from one (location) level to the next level andcannot otherwise change levels (e.g., move back to a previously playedlevel).

Another type of objective is to kill a particular monster, NPC or playercharacter. Another type of objective is to locate a particular virtualobject (e.g., a particular building, a particular weapon). Another typeof objective is to locate or interact with a particular player characteror NPC. Another type of objective is to position the player character ata particular location in the virtual world, or otherwise have the playercharacter access a particular location in the virtual world.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas particular attributes, such as a particular number of health points,a particular number of gold pieces or other monetary denomination, aparticular score, a particular level of strength, dexterity,constitution or other player character skill, or a particular number ofconnections in a social network (e.g., a number of friends in a friendslist). Determining that the player character has particular attributesincludes that the player character has more than a threshold number ofsomething (e.g., a score of more than 25,000), less than a thresholdnumber of something (e.g., less than ten health points), exactly aparticular number of something (e.g., has exactly one life remaining),has something within a range (e.g., has a strength score between threeand six), or any other manner of matching the attributes of a playercharacter to particular attributes.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas a particular virtual object or particular type of virtual object.For example, the particular status may be that the player character hasat least one weapon.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterdid not have, but has acquired, a particular virtual object orparticular type of virtual object. For example, the particular statusmay be that the player character has acquired armor.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterdoes not have a particular virtual object or particular type of virtualobject. For example, the particular status may be that the playercharacter does not have any food.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhad but no longer has a particular virtual object or particular type ofvirtual object. For example, the particular status may be that theplayer character lost a car.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characteris in danger of dying. In an embodiment, determining that a playercharacter in a video game has a particular status comprises determiningthat the player character is about to make a strategic or tacticalmistake or misstep.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas failed more than a predetermined number of times to complete amission or task or to achieve an objective.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas been partially but not completely successful in completing a missionor task or in achieving an objective.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas discovered some but not all virtual objects which are capable ofbeing discovered.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas accomplished a mission or task, but is in an undesirable state afterdoing so. For example, the player character may have defeated a monsterbut has received significant damage in doing so.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characterhas accomplished a mission or task, but has taken too long (e.g., morethan a threshold amount of time, more than a threshold number ofatempts) to do so.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characteris at a particular location in the virtual world.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining that the player characteris within a predetermined distance in the virtual world from anotherplayer character, from a NPC or from any thing with a variable locationin the virtual world.

In an embodiment, determining the status of a player character comprisesdetermining one or more types of status (and possibly not determiningother types of status).

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises determining a previous status of theplayer character. For example, determining a previous status can includedetermining whether the player character has ever possessed an object,or has ever encountered a particular monster.

In an embodiment, determining that a player character in a video gamehas a particular status comprises a combination of any of thedeterminations described herein. For example, determining that a playercharacter in a video game has a particular status can comprisedetermining that the player character both (a) has less than fiftyhealth points, and (b) has twice failed to defeat a particular NPCopponent.

Many video games currently store and manipulate some types of status ofplayer characters, such as in one or more variables which are stored insoftware and accessible by the video game. Many video games currentlyrecord such status as the player character having killed a certain NPCor player character, or having transitioned to a subsequent level in thevideo game.

The video game can provide an offer to a player at a time that isgoverned by the status of the player. In an embodiment, determining thata player character in a video game has a particular status comprisesdetermining the location of the player (e.g., determining the address ofthe video game console the player uses via its IP address, determiningthe location of the player's phone which has a GPS transceiver,determining the location of the player by content made available such asa self-described location posted on a web site such as Facebook, Twitteror LinkedIn). In an embodiment, determining that a player character in avideo game has a particular status comprises determining that thelocation of the player meets particular criteria (e.g., the player is inthe state of California, the player is on a particular street, theplayer is within a threshold distance of another player or person, theplayer is near a store of a chain of stores).

In an embodiment, the offer can be provided immediately afterdetermining the status that triggers the offer. For example, where anoffer is to be provided to a player when their player character has lessthan ten health points, the offer could be provided immediately afterthe health points of the player character decrease below ten.

In an embodiment, the offer can be provided some time after the timethat the status of the player character attains the status that triggersthe offer, such as a predetermined amount of time after such time thestatus is attained, when a randomly-determined amount of time has passedafter such time the status is attained, or at a random time after suchtime the status is attained.

In an embodiment, the offer can be provided some time after determiningthe status that triggers the offer, such as a predetermined amount oftime after such determining, when a randomly-determined amount of timehas passed after such determining, or at a random time after suchdetermining.

In an embodiment, a plurality of offers (for virtual items which are notnecessarily related) can be provided as a single offer is provided. Forexample, upon determining that the status of a player character is aparticular kind of status, a plurality of offers may be provided to theplayer. A plurality of offers may be all accepted, may be all rejected,or some portion of the plurality of offers may be accepted.

In an embodiment, a player may request that he be provided with anoffer. For example, the player may encounter a difficult part of amission and desire to receive some assistance. In an embodiment, aplayer requesting an offer is provided with an offer. In an embodiment,a player may request that he be provided with an offer meetingparticular criteria (e.g., price, virtual item or type of virtual item,that the virtual item be useful in completing a particular mission or inachieving a particular objective). In an embodiment, a player mayrequest that he be provided with an offer meeting particular criteria(e.g., price, virtual item or type of virtual item). In an embodiment, aplayer requesting an offer is only provided with an offer if, e.g., hequalifies to receive an offer, he has not previously accepted athreshold number of offers, offers are otherwise available to him.

A method involved in selecting offers to provide players according to anembodiment includes the following steps:

1. Retrieve activities of a player character

2. Generate and store a profile of an offer for the player characterbased on account activity

3. Retrieve profiles of offers

4. Determine appropriate profiles that qualify for an offer

5. Output offer to the player corresponding to the profile

A method involved in specifying offers to provide players according toan embodiment includes the following steps:

1. Receive a request to enter an offer from an offer provider

2. Output an offer form

3. Receive terms and conditions via the form

4. Determine if the offer provider qualifies to sell virtual items

5. Store the offer specified by the received terms and conditions

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive an indication that a player character is about to attempt amission

2. Determine if offers are available for the player

3. Determine if the player character qualifies for an offer

4. Output offer to player

5. Receive acceptance of offer

6. Flag account of player character with mission complete status basedon conditions of the offer

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive an indication that a player character failed the completionof a mission

2. Determine if offers are is available

3. Determine if the player character qualifies for an offer

4. Output offer

5. Receive acceptance of offer

6. Flag player character account with mission complete status based onconditions of the offer

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive indication that a player character has completed all or partof a mission

2. Determine that the mission was completed in an unsatisfactory way

3. Determine if offers are available

4. Determine if player character qualifies for an offer

5. Output offer

6. Receive acceptance of offer

7. Flag player character account with mission complete status based onconditions of the offer

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Generate a list of missions that a player character can complete

2. Determine if offers are available

3. Determine if the player character qualifies for an offer

4. Output offer

5. Receive acceptance of offer

6. Flag player character account with mission complete status based onconditions of the offer

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Determine that a first player character is within the physicalvicinity of a second player character

2. Generate a list of missions available for the first player character

3. Determine if any offers are available

4. Determine if the first player character qualifies for an offer

5. Output offer

6. Receive acceptance of offer

7. Flag first player character account with mission complete statusbased on conditions of the offer

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Determine that a player has obtained a threshold number ofconnections on a social network

2. Generate list of missions available for the player's player character

3. Determine if any offers are available

4. Determine if the player character qualifies for an offer

5. Output offer

6. Receive acceptance of offer

7. Flag player character account with mission complete status based onconditions of the offer

The virtual item that is offered can be a temporary or permanent changein the video game. For example, the virtual item that is offered can bethat the difficulty of the video game or the difficulty of portions ofthe video game can be reduced. As another example, the virtual item thatis offered can be that a mission or task will automatically be deemedcompleted, or that an objective will automatically be deemed achieved.

The virtual item that is offered can be directly related to the statusthat triggers the providing of the offer. For example, an offer can betriggered by the player character failing to complete a mission or task,and the virtual item that is offered can be that the mission or taskwill automatically be deemed completed. As another example, an offer canbe triggered by the player character failing to complete a mission ortask, and the virtual item that is offered can be that the mission ortask will easier to complete (e.g., because the difficulty of themission or task will be reduced, because the player character will begranted extra power or a virtual object to facilitate the completion ofthe mission or task).

The virtual item that is offered can be a virtual object, such as ascore, weapon, armor, equipment, food, health points, strength points,skills, money, points of any kind, or anything that the player charactercould attain in the video game.

The virtual item that is offered can be a virtual service that isdelivered in the video game. Note that some types of virtual items thatare offered may reasonably be considered to be both a virtual object anda virtual service. In an embodiment, a virtual service is provided byanother player, or by any other entity such as a merchant via themerchant's computer in the real world that communicates via the videogame with the player. A virtual service may be provided by no liveentity, such as by an NPC, by the video game system alone or by anotherdevice alone.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to have anotherplayer character complete a mission or task or achieve an objective forthe player. For example, an offer can be triggered by the playercharacter failing to complete a mission or task, and the virtual itemthat is offered can be that another player character will complete themission or task.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to have anotherplayer or player character provide, to the player, training incompleting a mission or task or in achieving an objective. For example,an offer can be triggered by a first player character failing tocomplete a mission or task, and the virtual item that is offered can bethat another player or player character will train the playercorresponding to the first player character in how to complete themission or task. Such training can include, for example, providing aguide, providing a file, providing a video, providing an audio message,and/or opening a communication channel (e.g., instant messaging, two-wayvoice over IP communication) between the players.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to have anotherplayer assume control of the player character and complete a mission ortask or achieve an objective with the player character. For example, anoffer can be triggered by a first player character failing to complete amission or task, and the virtual item that is offered can be thatanother player assumes control of the first player character andcompletes a mission or task with the player character. In an embodiment,the other player assumes control of a player character until theoccurrence of an event (e.g., until the completion of the mission ortask), after which control of the player character is returned (e.g.,immediately) to the original player. In an embodiment, the other playerassumes control of a player character until the original playercharacter indicates that control of the player character should return,after which control of the player character is returned (e.g.,immediately) to the original player.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to provideinformation available to the video game but not typically revealed tothe player, such as the health or other attributes of other playercharacters or players.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to show thelocation of another player or player character, such as on a map shownin a portion of a display device of the video game console (e.g., on ascreen of a cell phone). Such an offer can be triggered by therespective locations of a first player and a second player (e.g., afirst player being within a predetermined distance of a second player,the first player and second player being within the same town).

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to provide a mapor description of directions from the location of the player to anotherlocation, such as to a real-world store or to the location of anotherplayer. Such an offer can be triggered by the respective locations of afirst player and a second player.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to send a messageor command to a real-world device, such as to a cell phone, smart phoneor PDA (e.g., make a particular person's cellphone ring, make anapplication executing on a smart phone play an audio tone). Such anoffer can be triggered by the respective locations of a first player anda second player.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to have anotherplayer, person or other real-world entity perform a service (e.g., senda message directing another player to perform a service for the player).Such an offer can be triggered by the respective locations of a firstplayer and a second player.

In an embodiment, the virtual item that is offered is to have a playercharacter perform a service in the virtual world. Such an offer can betriggered by the respective locations of a first player and a secondplayer.

In an embodiment, a plurality of virtual items are offered and theplayer can select one of the plurality to receive. For example, theplayer can be offered one hundred health points, a weapon and a map, andthe player can select, e.g., the weapon, thereby accepting the offer ofthe weapon.

In an embodiment, a plurality of virtual items are offered and theplayer can select a predetermined number of the plurality to receive.For example, the player can be offered one hundred health points, aweapon and a map, and the player is permitted to select two of those.The player can select, e.g., the weapon and the map, thereby acceptingthe offer of the weapon and the map.

In an embodiment, a plurality of virtual items are offered and theplayer can select up to a predetermined number of the plurality toreceive. For example, the player can be offered one hundred healthpoints, a weapon and a map, and the player is permitted to select one,two or three of those.

The price to pay for the virtual item can depend on which virtual itemsthe player selects. For example, each of the offered virtual items canhave a respective price, and the price the player must pay for theselected virtual items is the aggregate of the respective prices of theselected items.

The virtual item that is offered can be one or more or any virtual itemdescribed herein or of any combination of any of the virtual itemsdescribed herein. For example, the virtual item that is offered to aplayer can be the following: a weapon, ten health points, advice fromanother player on how to defeat an opponent and assistance from theother player in defeating the opponent.

The virtual item may be provided temporarily or permanently. Forexample, the player character may be granted a weapon, or the playercharacter may be lent a weapon for a period of time (e.g., untildefeating a particular opponent) after which the player characterrelinquishes the weapon.

In an embodiment, an entity (e.g., a player) may need to qualify inorder to provide services that are offered to players. In an embodiment,players that qualify to provide the service can be notified (e.g., viaemail, via text message) by the video game that they are qualified.

In an embodiment, a service to be provided to a player can be performedby an entity that is selected from among a plurality of entities whichcan provide the service. For example, the entities may bid (e.g., in anopen auction format) for the opportunity to provide the service, and theentity that submits the highest bid pays that bid and is selected toprovide the service. As another example, the entities may bid (e.g., inan open auction format) for the opportunity to provide the service, andthe entity that submits the lowest bid is selected to provide theservice (e.g., to players who accept an offer) at the specified bidprice.

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive request to use an offered virtual item to complete a mission

2. Perform one of the following, based on a selected offer

2.1. Alter mission based on the offer

2.2. Alter player character based on the offer

2.3. Alter second player character to help first player character basedon the offer

2.4. Output instructions to player character based on the offer

2.5. Transfer virtual object to/from player character based on the offer

3. Receive indication that mission has been completed by or for playercharacter

4. Store mission completion in player character profile

A method involved in providing an offer according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive a request to receive an offer, including criteria for theoffer

2. Determine a set of providers who can provide an offer meeting thecriteria

3. Output a request to the set of providers

4. Receive an offer, including a price, terms and conditions, from aprovider

5. Output the received offer to the player requesting the offer

6. Receive acceptance of the offer

7. Allow the provider to complete the transaction as specified by theoffer

The offer can be provided to a player in any of various manners. In anembodiment, the offer can be provided by displaying the offer duringplay of the video game, such as in a predefined part of the screen, orin what is or appears to be a separate window. The offer can be played,e.g., an audio file or video file can be played.

In an embodiment, the offer is not displayed, played or otherwiseprovided to the player until the player so indicates. For example, whenan offer is available to be provided, the player can be alerted, e.g.,by a small icon being displayed in a portion of the screen, or a tone orother audio being played. The player can then, if desired, command theavailable offer(s) to be provided, e.g., by pressing a key on thekeyboard or using the mouse to click a particular button or othercontrol.

In an embodiment, offer is provided via an in-game email system ormessaging system.

In an embodiment, when an offer is provided or is available to beprovided, the normal play of the video game may change for the player.For example, play can slow down or stop when an offer is provided or isavailable to be provided, and the motion of NPCs can slow or stopaccordingly. In an embodiment, the slowing or stopping may continueuntil the offer is either rejected or accepted. In an embodiment, theslowing or stopping may continue for a predetermined amount of time(e.g., ten seconds), after which play may resume normally, or may speedup but nevertheless be slower than normal play.

In an embodiment, the player can accept an offer by pressing a key onthe keyboard, clicking a button with a mouse, traveling the playercharacter to a particular location, or by taking any other action withinthe video game. In an embodiment, the player can accept the offer bysending a message (e.g., an in-game text message) or opening acommunications channel (e.g., a voice chat session).

The data about the offer may specify how the offer can be or must beaccepted. Different offers or different kinds of offers may havedifferent default manners in which the offer is accepted by the player.

In an embodiment, a player can establish that certain offers, certainkinds of offers or all offers are to be accepted without further action.In an embodiment, the player can specify that all offers during a timeperiod (e.g., the next five minutes) from a particular entity (e.g.,from the video game designer, from a particular player) are to beaccepted. In an embodiment, the player can specify that during a timeperiod (e.g., until defeating a particular monster, until the playercharacter dies) all offers of a particular type (e.g., offers related todefeating a monster) are to be automatically accepted.

In an embodiment, in which a price is charged for a virtual item that isoffered, the price may be paid by the player. In an embodiment, some orall of the price may be paid for by another entity instead of theplayer. For example, a third party can pay for the player, and in returnthe player may, e.g., view an advertisement or purchase a product fromthe third party.

In an embodiment, the price may be paid in the form of virtual currency(e.g., gold pieces, in-game currency). In an embodiment, the price maybe paid in the form of real currency (e.g., US$1.00). In an embodiment,the price may be paid in the form of virtual objects (e.g., a weapon, avirtual building).

In an embodiment, the price may be paid in the form of the playerperforming or agreeing to perform an action in the real world, or theplayer undertaking or agreeing to undertake an obligation in the realworld. For example, the price may be that the player agree to visit astore in the real world such as a clothing store, make a purchase in thereal world from an online merchant such as Amazon.com,

In an embodiment, the price can be that the player signs up for areal-world service, such as a DVD rental service or a cellular telephoneplan. In an embodiment, the player can sign up for the real-worldservice using the video game, perhaps without needing to perform anyadditional actions outside of the video game. For example, the videogame can allow the player to enter various information that may beuseful in providing the service (e.g., the player's name, address andcredit card information), and the video game can present the player witha contract or agreement which the player can read and agree to, e.g., byclicking an accept button with a mouse or by entering his initials witha keyboard. In an embodiment, some or all of the information that may beuseful or required in providing a service may be accessible by the videogame. For example, the video game may have access to the billing addressand credit card number of the player, perhaps because that informationwas provided, e.g., to pay for a subscription to the video game. In suchan embodiment, the player may not need to enter such information sincethe video game has access to and can release that information, perhapsonce receiving permission from the player.

Contracts and agreements with a player of a video game and betweenplayers of a video game are described in the following patents andapplication, each of which is incorporated by reference herein as partof the present disclosure:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11355232, entitled “Online GameEnvironment that Facilitates Binding Contracts Between PlayerCharacters”, filed Feb. 14, 2006;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/279,991, entitled “Securing VirtualContracts with Credit”, filed Apr. 17, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No.7,677,973;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/611,050, entitled “Online GameEnvironment that Facilitates Sponsorship Contracts”, filed Dec. 14,2006;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/624,662, entitled “SecuringContracts in a Virtual World”, filed Jan. 18, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No.7,666,095;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/710,641, entitled “AGREEMENTS INVIDEO GAMES PERMITTING VIRTUAL AND REAL WORLD PENALTIES OBLIGATIONS ANDREMEDIES”, filed Feb. 23, 2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/725,271, entitled “MANAGEMENT ENGINEFOR CONTRACTUAL TERMS IN A VIDEO GAME”, filed Mar. 16, 2010; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/725,268, entitled “Apparatus andProcess for Facilitating Binding Agreements Among Players of a VideoGame”, filed Mar. 16, 2010.

In an embodiment, a module (e.g., accessible in the video game) permitsa player to specify the “completion” of a task that defines anobligation under a contract. For example, the module can provide agraphical user interface (or other interface) that lets the obligationbe defined, and thus lets a player define some or all terms of acontract. For example, the user interface can allow a player to selectthe obligation type (e.g., “deliver an in-game item”), select whatin-game item must be delivered, and select to who (e.g., to whichcharacter) it must be delivered.

Obligations can also have meta-characteristics. For example, the userinterface can permit a player to select whether there is a deadline forthe obligation (e.g., click the DEADLINE radio button in the userinterface), and select the deadline type. For example, deadline typesmay include “Specific Date” (which provides the player with a calendarfrom which the player selects the date), “Within the next X hours ofgame play” (which provides a box where the player can enter a number ofdays/hours/minutes/seconds), “Before the occurrence of another in-gameevent” (which provides a user interface allowing the player to select anin-game event type), “within the next X days of the occurrence ofanother in-game event” (which provides a user interface allowing theplayer to select an in-game event type and a number ofdays/hours/minutes/seconds).

A similar user interface can be used to permit players to modifyobligations (e.g., in a counter offer to a proposal for contract). Asimilar user interface can be used to permit players to modifyobligations (e.g., in a counter offer to a proposal for contract). Asimilar user interface can be used to permit players to enter otherobligations.

In an embodiment, the price may be paid in the form of the playerperforming or agreeing to perform an action in the virtual world, or theplayer undertaking or agreeing to undertake an obligation in the virtualworld. In an embodiment, the price may be that the player agree to havecertain advertising presented to the player in the video game. In anembodiment, such advertising could be provided to the player in the samemanner that advertising is provided to other players, but the playeraccepting the offer could receive advertising different from theadvertising provided to other players. For example, in an embodiment,advertisements are presented on a certain in-game building or an in-gamesign that a plurality of players can see, e.g., when their respectiveplayer characters are in the vicinity of the in-game building or in-gamesign. However, the particular advertisements that are presented on thein-game building or in-game sign can be the same for all players exceptthose players who have agreed to receive advertising, in which casethose players would receive advertising from, e.g., a merchant thatprovided the offer to the player.

In an embodiment, the price may be that the player agree to have certainvirtual objects presented to him in the virtual world or placed in thevirtual world (e.g., near the player character). For example, the pricemay be that all or some of the virtual cars displayed in the virtualworld (or displayed in some portion of the virtual world) are Hondacars. As another example, the price may be that all or some of the musicplayed in the virtual world (or played in some portion of the virtualworld) is a certain song, is by a particular artists or is produced by aparticular record label. In an embodiment, the virtual object may beseen or perceived by other players (i.e. it exists for the other playersas well) but is different for the other players (e.g., has a different‘skin’ as rendered by one player's video game system compared to theappearance as rendered by other players' video game system). Forexample, all cars in the virtual world could be seen by all players,e.g., whose respective player characters are in the vicinity of the carin the virtual world. However, the car could be displayed as a Honda carto the player who accepted an offer, but all other players would see thecar differently (e.g., as being model other than a Honda car).

In an embodiment, the price may be that the player agree to have hisplayer character have a particular appearance or have other particularcharacteristics. For example, the price may be that the player agrees tohave his player character wear a shirt or hat that bears the logo of asponsoring company, or otherwise having a predetermined appearancedictated by another entity (e.g., an advertiser). In an embodiment, theprice may be that the player agree to have some other virtual objecthave a particular appearance or have other particular characteristics.For example, the price may be that the player agrees to erect a virtualbuilding that displays a particular logo, advertisement or message.

In an embodiment, the change in appearance or other characteristics maybe performed automatically (e.g., upon acceptance by the player, at atime in the future agreed upon). For example, upon accepting an offerthe player character is changed to have a particular shirt bearing alogo. In an embodiment, the appearance change or other change in playercharacter characteristics is performed by the player.

In an embodiment, a player can agree to perform in the future an actionin the real-world or in the virtual world. A penalty can be assessed orapplied, e.g., for failing to perform the specified action, for failingto perform the action in a particular manner or for otherwise failing toabide by a term of an agreement. The penalty may include, e.g., paymentby the player of real-world currency, of virtual currency, of virtualobjects, or any other form of payment, including forms of paymentdescribed herein. In an embodiment, the penalty can be appliedautomatically. For example, a credit card account of the player can becharged automatically, or virtual items can be withdrawn automaticallyfrom the player character.

The penalty may include the player relinquishing the virtual item thatwas provided as part of the offer. For example, where 100 gold pieceswere provided in exchange for agreeing to sign up for a subscription fora year, then if the player cancels the subscription (e.g., within threemonths), the player can be forced to forfeit the 100 gold pieces givento his character. As another example, where accepting an offer allowed aplayer character to complete a mission, then a penalty could be that themission is deemed not completed.

A method involved in assessing a penalty according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Determine that a condition of an offer has not been met

2. Retrieve player account

3. Remove credit for completing mission

4. Assess and charge a penalty for not fulfilling the condition of theoffer

In an embodiment, a player may receive a commission or other benefit inexchange for signing up other players for a third party service. Forexample, when a player receives an offer for a third party service, theplayer may choose to copy the offer and assist in providing the offer toother players.

In an embodiment, the price for an offered item can be paid in more thanone form, For example, the player may have the choice of paying eitherin gold pieces or in U.S. dollars.

In an embodiment, the form in which the price can be paid may bespecified by the data about the offer. For example, data about the offermay specify that the price can only be paid by the player performing aparticular service. As another example, data about the offer may specifythat the price the player pays can be any of: 100 gold pieces, US$1.00,or changing the appearance of the player character of the player.

In an embodiment, the price for an offered item is paid immediately uponacceptance of the offer. In an embodiment, the price for an offered itemis paid some time after acceptance of the offer. In an embodiment, theprice for an offered item is paid before the offered item is provided.In an embodiment, the price for an offered item is paid after theoffered item is provided. In an embodiment, the price for an offereditem is paid at the time the offered item is provided.

In an embodiment, the timing of payment may be specified by the dataabout the offer. For example, data about the offer may specify that theprice must be paid immediately upon acceptance.

In an embodiment, the price to charge for an offered item can bespecified completely by the entity that establishes the offer. In anembodiment, the price can be subject to maximums, minimums, limitationsor other conditions, such as may be imposed by the game company. In anembodiment, a price may include a set of components, and one or morecomponents can be specified by different entities.

In an embodiment, the price is a constant (e.g., US$1.00). In anembodiment, the price depends in whole or in part on one or morefactors. For example, the price for a player may depend on previouspurchases made by the player (e.g., the price increases with everyprevious offer accepted by a player). As another example, the price maydepend on the player status, such as the difficultly level of a mission,whether the player is solving the mission alone or with help of otherplayers, the skill level of the player character, the skill level ofother player characters helping, how many times the player has tried andfailed to complete the mission, how much time the player has spenttrying to complete the mission

In an embodiment, a price paid for a virtual item that is offered may bepaid to an entity such as the entity providing the offer or the entityproviding the virtual item. In an embodiment, portions of the price paidfor a virtual item may be paid to different entities. Such portions mayinclude a commission. Such portion may be fixed (e.g., $0.05, 10% of theprice) or variable (e.g., depending on the amount of the price paid,depending on the entity providing the offer). In an embodiment a portionof the price is paid to an entity that provides the video game, anentity that manages distribution of offers to players, or an entityoperating a server on which the video game runs. In an embodiment suchan entity receives a portion of all or substantially all prices paid foroffered virtual items.

A method involved in charging commissions according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive an indication that an offered virtual item has been or willbe used to complete a mission

2. Determine a price for the virtual item

3. Charge price to player account

4. Determine commission for the offer

5. Remit price less commission to provider of offer

A method involved in the player performing an action according to anembodiment includes the following steps:

1. Receive an indication that an offered virtual item has been or willbe used to complete a mission

2. Alter player character based on conditions of the offer

3. Alter player's graphical user interface based on conditions of theoffer

In an embodiment, a player can opt to block upsell offers altogether, sothat the player would not be provided any offers though the playerotherwise would have been provided with one or more offers. Similarly,in an embodiment a player may block certain types of offers from beingprovided to him, or permit only certain types of offers to be providedto him. For example, a player might specify that only offers for certainvirtual items can be provided, or that offers requiring payment of aservice by the player are to be blocked. In an embodiment, a player mayspecify limits on the number of offers that are provided to him, such asno more than five offers per day or no more than twenty offers ever.

In an embodiment, a player may specify that offers are not to beprovided to him during the play of the video game, but are insteadprovided via another channel, such as via email or an in-game messagesystem.

In an embodiment, only a predetermined number of offers (or an otherwiselimited number of offers) can be provided to a particular player. Forexample, players may be unable to be provided more than five offers permonth, or no more than twenty total.

In an embodiment, only a predetermined number of certain types of offers(or an otherwise limited number of certain types of offers) can beprovided to a particular player. For example, players may be unable tobe provided more than five offers per month form non-players

Similarly, in an embodiment, only a limited number of offers or certaintypes of offers can be provided at all. For example, only a total of onehundred offers per month in total may be provided, or only a total offive offers from non-players per month in total may be provided.

With limitations on the providing of offers to players, the video gamewould provide offers to those players capable of being provided offers.

Limitations on offers may differ depending on the mode of play of thevideo game. For example, there may be limitations only in multiplayermode but no limitations or different limitations in single player mode.There may be limitations for players that do not pay a subscription feebut no limitations or different limitations for players that pay asubscription fee.

Limitations on offers may differ depending on the time a player hasspent playing the video game. For example, the limitation on the numberof offers that may be provided to a player may increase (or decrease)with the number of hours the player spends playing the game, or thenumber of hours per week the player spends playing the game. In anembodiment, the manner in which the limitation changes can be set by theplayer, or can be set by a third party such as a parent of the player.For example, a parent may set the limitations such that as the playerspends more hours per week playing, the number of offers that can beprovided to the player increases.

In an embodiment, the ability to receive an offer can depend on the pastbehavior or previous status of a player character. For example, a playermay be required to earn the ability to receive offers, or to receivecertain kinds of offers (e.g., offers for powerful weapons, offers tocomplete missions). In an embodiment, a player can earn the ability toreceive offers or particular types of offers by playing the video gamemore than a predetermined amount of time (e.g., more than 200 hourstotal, more than a predetermined number of hours in each of threeconsecutive months). In an embodiment, a player can earn the ability toreceive offers or particular types of offers by accomplishing certaintasks, such as tasks in the video game.

In an embodiment, there are a limited number of offers available, or alimited number of particular kinds of offers available. There can be anauction for players to purchase the ability to receive offers orparticular kinds of offers. In an embodiment, points or other currencymust be or can be used by players to purchase the ability to receiveoffers or particular kinds of offers. Such points might be earned byplayers, might be purchased by players, might be created by players (andpossibly redeemed by another player). Sch points could accumulate, muchas certain character attributes (e.g., health, strength) in some videogames accumulate with play of the video game. There can be limits on theuse of points. For example, there may be limits on the amounts of pointsredeemed or the frequency with which points are redeemed, limits on theacquisition of points.

A method involved in limited offer availability according to anembodiment includes the following steps:

1. Receive a request for an offer

2. Determine if an offer is available based on game conditions, timeconditions, player conditions, player character conditions, and/oradvertiser conditions

3. Generate a price for the offered virtual item

4. Output an offer for a virtual item

5. Receive acceptance of the offer

6. Flag player character account with mission complete status based onconditions of the offer

A method involved in setting offer frequency according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Determine length of game session

2. Generate the appropriate number of allowable offers per unit time

3. Output offers based on the number allowable per unit time

A method involved in setting offer frequency according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive a request to change the number of allowable offers per unittime for a player account

2. Determine if requesting party is authorized to alter the settings

3. Output graphical user interface for altering the settings

4. Receive setting alterations

5. Store setting alterations with player account

A method involved in offer availability according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Determine that an offer is available for a mission based onconditions

2. Post the offer on an auction

3. Identify player that may want to receive the offer

4. Notify players that an offer is being auctioned

5. Receive a winning auction bid from a player

6. Make the offer available to the player with winning bid

A method involved in offer availability according to an embodimentincludes the following steps:

1. Receive an action from a player character that qualifies for an offer

2. Generate appropriate offer points based on action and conditions

3. Credit offer points to player character account

4. Receive a request from the player to redeem offer points to acquirean offer

5. Determine if points qualify to be used to purchase the specifiedoffer

6. Charge offer points

7. Provide offer

In an embodiment, whether a particular offer is provided to a player canbe based exclusively on the criteria for that offer, such as the statusof a player character. For example, where the offer is specified asbeing provided to a player that fails three times to kill a particularmonster, then that offer can be provided to all players that fail threetimes to kill the particular monster.

In an embodiment, whether a particular offer is provided to a player canbe based on the history of the player, such as based on the offers thatthe player has accepted and/or the offers that the player has rejected.For example, a particular offer may be specified as being provided onlyto players who have previously accepted at least two offers. As anotherexample, a particular offer may be specified as being provided only toplayers who have previously accepted at least five of a particular typeof offer. As another example, a particular offer may be specified asbeing provided only to players who have accepted offers from aparticular merchant.

In an embodiment, an entity can specify an offer and details about theoffer by entering various data via a user interface (e.g., a graphicaluser interface) into a module or device that receives and records dataspecifying such offers. For example, such data may be entered via a userinterface (e.g., an HTML form in a web browser, a custom application)running on a device (e.g., a personal computer) operated by an entitysuch as an adverser or a player. The device in turn can transmit thedata to a video game system or a component thereof (e.g., to a serverthat runs the video game), or the device can otherwise make the dataavailable to the video game system when required (e.g., when an offermust be provided). The data can include, for example, files to beuploaded, text entered in fields of forms, data selected from menus orother controls of a graphical user interface, hyperlinks to further URLsor other data.

In an embodiment, the user interface permits an entity to enter datawhich specifies a plurality of similar offers. For example, data mayspecify that a plurality of offers are specified by: the same text ofthe offer, the same virtual item to be offered, and the same price to bepaid for the virtual item, but that each of the plurality of offers istriggered by a different player character status. In an embodiment,where a set of information is to be used to specify more than one offer,the user interface permits that set of information to be saved andapplied to different offers as directed by the entity.

In an embodiment, an entity may need to qualify to be permitted tocreate offers which are to be provided. In an embodiment, an entity mayneed to pay a fee, e.g., for creating offers, for each offer provided,for each offer accepted. The amount of such a fee can be, e.g., fixed, afixed amount per offer, or a percentage of the value received by theentity from accepted offers.

In an embodiment, the user interface or another software-based systempermits the performance of offers to be measured. For example, a userinterface can output, for an offer, performance measurements such as thenumber of times the offer was provided, the number of times the offerwas accepted, the percentage of times the offer was accepted, the totalof all virtual items provided in exchange for acceptances of the offer,the total value received from acceptances of the offer. In anembodiment, the performance of a plurality of offers (e.g., all offersof an entity) can be aggregated and output.

In an embodiment, a video game server or another device can record theaggregate performance of all offers, e.g., the number of all offers thatare provided, accepted, rejected, acceptance rate of all offers. Suchperformance measurements may be subdivided by time (e.g., acceptancerate in the month of August), by type of offer (e.g., offers to providea particular kind of virtual item, offers triggered by a particular kindof player status), by type of player (e.g., by age or address ofplayer), by player character (e.g., by skill level), by time the offeris provided.

Such performance measurements might be made available, e.g., toadvertisers, players, other entities, perhaps for a fee. Performancedata could be used to assist in setting the price to charge for virtualitems that are offered. For example, data on acceptance rates ofprevious offers can illuminate which amounts players are in generalunwilling to pay. Performance data could be used to specify the price tocharge for virtual items that are offered. For example, there can be aprevailing ‘market price’ for a particular virtual item that is offered(e.g., the highest price for which more than 50% of offers for thevirtual item were accepted), and offers can specify that the marketprice is used is offers for that virtual item. Market prices can varybased on, e.g., locations in the virtual world, server running the videogame, status of the player character, characteristics of players.

1. An apparatus comprising: a processor, and a memory in communicationwith the processor, in which the memory stores instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor, direct the processor to perform a processcomprising: running a massive multi player online game that is operableto simultaneously support a plurality of players via a plurality ofvideo game devices, in which each of the players controls one or morerespective player characters; in which the players are able to interactwith each other in the game; determining that a first player characterin the game has a particular status in the game; searching a database ofentries for an entry that specifies the particular status of the firstplayer character, in which each entry specifies: a respective offer, arespective status of a player character in the game, a respectivevirtual item, a respective price to pay for the virtual item, and arespective second player to pay for the virtual item; locating an entryin the database that specifies the particular status of the first playercharacter; providing, to a player corresponding to the first playercharacter, the offer that is specified by the located entry; receiving,from the player corresponding to the first player character, anacceptance of the provided offer; providing, to the player correspondingto the first player character, the virtual item that is specified by thelocated entry; and charging the player corresponding to the first playercharacter for the price that is specified by the located entry.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, in which determining that a first player characterin the game has a particular status in the video game comprises:determining that a first player character in the game is at the start ofa mission in the game.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, in which determiningthat a first player character in the game has a particular status in thevideo game comprises: determining that a first player character iswithin a predetermined distance of a second player character.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, in which determining that a first player characterin the game has a particular status in the video game comprises:determining that a first player character in the game has failed morethan a predetermined number of times to achieve an objective in thegame.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, in which determining that a playercharacter in the game has failed more than a predetermined number oftimes to achieve an objective in the game comprises: determining that aplayer character in a video game has failed more than a predeterminednumber of times to transition to a subsequent level in the game.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising: determining, based on a numberof offers the player corresponding to the first player character haspreviously accepted, that an offer is available to be provided.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, in which providing the virtual item comprises:reducing a difficulty level of the game for a predetermined period oftime.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which providing the virtual itemcomprises: opening a communications channel between the playercorresponding to the first player character and the second player thatis specified by the located entry.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, in whichcharging the player corresponding to the first player character for theprice that is specified by the located entry comprises: altering anappearance of the first player character.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,in which altering an appearance of the first player character comprises:altering an appearance of clothing of the first player character.
 11. Amethod performed by a computing device, the method comprising: running,by the computing device, a massive multi player online game that isoperable to simultaneously support a plurality of players via aplurality of video game devices, in which each of the players controlsone or more respective player characters; in which the players are ableto interact with each other in the game; determining, by the computingdevice, that a first player character in the game has a particularstatus in the game; searching, by the computing device, a database ofentries for an entry that specifies the particular status of the firstplayer character, in which each entry specifies: a respective offer, arespective status of a player character in the game, a respectivevirtual item, a respective price to pay for the virtual item, and arespective second player to pay for the virtual item; locating, by thecomputing device, an entry in the database that specifies the particularstatus of the first player character; providing, by the computingdevice, to a player corresponding to the first player character, theoffer that is specified by the located entry; receiving, by thecomputing device, from the player corresponding to the first playercharacter, an acceptance of the provided offer; providing, by thecomputing device, to the player corresponding to the first playercharacter, the virtual item that is specified by the located entry; andcharging, by the computing device, the player corresponding to the firstplayer character for the price that is specified by the located entry.12. The method of claim 11, in which determining that a first playercharacter in the game has a particular status in the video gamecomprises: determining that a first player character in the game is atthe start of a mission in the game.
 13. The method of claim 11, in whichdetermining that a first player character in the game has a particularstatus in the video game comprises: determining that a first playercharacter is within a predetermined distance of a second playercharacter.
 14. The method of claim 11, in which determining that a firstplayer character in the game has a particular status in the video gamecomprises: determining that a first player character in the game hasfailed more than a predetermined number of times to achieve an objectivein the game.
 15. The method of claim 14, in which determining that aplayer character in the game has failed more than a predetermined numberof times to achieve an objective in the game comprises: determining thata player character in a video game has failed more than a predeterminednumber of times to transition to a subsequent level in the game.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising: determining, based on a numberof offers the player corresponding to the first player character haspreviously accepted, that an offer is available to be provided.
 17. Themethod of claim 11, in which providing the virtual item comprises:reducing a difficulty level of the game for a predetermined period oftime.
 18. The method of claim 11, in which providing the virtual itemcomprises: opening a communications channel between the playercorresponding to the first player character and the second player thatis specified by the located entry.
 19. The method of claim 11, in whichcharging the player corresponding to the first player character for theprice that is specified by the located entry comprises: altering anappearance of the first player character.
 20. The method of claim 19, inwhich altering an appearance of the first player character comprises:altering an appearance of clothing of the first player character.